Feds throw out over a third of cases stemming from violent Portland protests in 2020 — with reportedly many more dismissals to come



A lot has been made of how easily violent Portland protesters have escaped prosecution in 2020, and progressive Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt gained quite a bit of notoriety when case after case was tossed.

Indeed, an October report indicated that of the nearly 1,000 protests and riot-related arrests in Portland since late May, almost 70% of the charges were dropped.

Schmidt said his office would not prosecute for the following crimes:

  • Interfering with a peace officer or parole and probation officer
  • Disorderly conduct in the second degree
  • Criminal trespass in the first and second degree
  • Escape in the third degree
  • Harassment
  • Riot (unless accompanied by a charge outside of this list)

Schmidt insisted he was saving resources for the most serious crimes, KGW-TV reported — and so the feds stepped in. The station said that then-Attorney General William Barr reportedly instructed federal prosecutors to aggressively pursue violent or destructive protesters.

KGW said Billy Williams, then-U.S. Attorney for Oregon, warned in a Sept. 25 press release: "Make no mistake: those who commit violence in the name of protest, will be investigated, arrested, prosecuted, and face prison time."

How did that work out?

Federal prosecutors have tossed out over a third of cases stemming from the violent protests, the station said — 31 of 90 cases, court records show.

KGW said among the most serious thrown-out cases involved four defendants charged with assaulting a federal officer — a felony. In addition, the station said over half of the dropped charges were "dismissed with prejudice," which means the cases can't be brought back to court — an extremely rare provision, according to former federal prosecutors.

Williams — who stepped down from his post Feb. 28 at the request of President Joe Biden's administration — told KGW in a recent interview that the dismissals were due to prosecutors not believing they could prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

"Each case was analyzed for the evidence that we had at the time," Williams told KGW. "Careful decisions were made on whether or not someone should be charged based on the evidence."

What's more, several individuals closely involved with pending protest cases who asked for anonymity told the station they expect many more federal charges to be dismissed soon.

A Biden thing? Not so fast

One might be inclined to believe that the federal dismissals are a result of a Democratic administration taking power in Washington, D.C., but the numbers tell a different story. Of the 31 dismissed federal cases, KGW counted "at least 11" happening on or after the Biden's inauguration — far from a majority.

Feds quietly dismiss dozens of Portland protest casesyoutu.be

(H/T: PJMedia)

'Central Park Karen' underwent 'psychoeducation about racial equality' after calling 911 on black man last year — so her case was just dismissed



The white woman notoriously dubbed "Central Park Karen" for calling 911 on a black man who asked her to leash her dog last year in Central Park underwent "psychoeducation about racial equality" — five therapy sessions "designed for introspection and progress" — and so her case was dropped Tuesday, the New York Post reported.

What are the details?

Amy Cooper, who told the police dispatcher she was being threatened, faced up to a year in prison on a charge of making a false report.

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @melodyMcooper

But the paper said a judge granted Manhattan prosecutors' request to throw out the case after Cooper completed five therapy sessions "designed for introspection and progress," Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi-Orbon said at a virtual hearing.

"They sent her to Critical Therapy Center … who provided psychoeducation and therapy services which focused on the ways in which Ms. Cooper could appreciate that racial identities shape our lives, but we cannot use them to harm ourselves or others," Illuzzi-Orbon told Manhattan Criminal Court Justice Anne Swern, according to the Post. "Psychoeducation about racial equality is woven into each therapy session to prompt understanding and reflection."

Illuzzi-Orbon also said the diversion program Cooper completed with Manhattan Justice Opportunities was a punishment "consistent" with other misdemeanor cases, the paper said.

"Ms. Cooper's therapist reported that it was a moving experience, and Ms. Cooper learned a lot in their sessions together," the prosecutor said during the hearing, according to the Post.

The paper said when Cooper was asked if she wanted to be heard, she told the judge, "No, your honor." Her lawyer also declined to speak but said he agreed with prosecutors, the Post added.

Swern then dismissed and sealed her case, the paper said.

What's the background?

Video of the May 2019 incident was posted to Twitter by the black man's sister. Cooper was heard saying, "I'm going to tell them there's an African American man threatening my life." Which is exactly what she said on the 911 call:

Oh, when Karens take a walk with their dogs off leash in the famous Bramble in NY’s Central Park, where it is clear… https://t.co/zFb3O0cClz
— Melody Cooper (@Melody Cooper)1590426192.0

Cooper later told CNN she regretted calling the police: "It was unacceptable, and words are just words, but I can't undo what I did. I sincerely and humbly apologize to everyone, especially to that man and his family."

She added, "I'm not a racist. I did not mean to harm that man in any way."

But shortly after the incident Cooper was fired from her job at Franklin Templeton Investments, which said, "We do not tolerate racism of any kind."

In addition, Christian Cooper — the black man in question in the cellphone video — told people to stop making death threats against Amy Cooper for her actions that he called "definitely racist."

Christian Cooper also refused to cooperate in the prosecution, saying "she's already paid a steep price" for her behavior, the Post reported.